Empowering Creativity: Abdul Ali's Journey with Thrive Arts and Community Building in Art

Abdul Ali is a prolific poet, writer, and cultural worker with a diverse background in nonprofit consulting. Having held significant roles in Maryland's arts programs and academia, including teaching positions at prestigious institutions, Abdul's contributions to the literary world have been recognized through awards like the 2019 Ruby Grant. As a co-founder and co-chief executive officer of Thrive Arts, he ardently fosters capacity building within communities of color. Raised in Queens, New York, Abdul's journey underscores his commitment to nurturing creativity and empowering artists on their paths to success.

In this broadcast, we dive deep into:

• The omnipresence of art and its various creative expressions that enrich our community.
• The importance of providing artists a nurturing environment to push boundaries and catalyze both personal and artistic development.
• The pivotal concept of capacity building for artists, and how it paves their path to realizing creative triumphs.
• The profound influence artists wield within our community, and how our collective support can amplify their contributions.
• The transformative power of curiosity and vulnerability in shaping artistic endeavors, fostering impactful and authentic artistry.

Abdul discusses his upbringing, creative philosophy, and the mission of Thrive Arts. Abdul shares how his early exposure to art and poetry in school shaped his love for the written word and the power of voice. He emphasizes the importance of honesty, curiosity, and creating a safe space for artists to take risks. Abdul also discusses the need for capacity building in the arts community and how Thrive Arts aims to provide resources and support to artists of color. He highlights the diverse forms of art and creativity that exist in all corners of our community and encourages embracing and valuing these expressions.

Mentioned in the episode
Thrive Arts

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Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

• Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
• Edited by Daniel Alexis
• Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

• Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
• Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

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